| Mission type | Optical imaging reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Operator | OKB-1 |
| COSPAR ID | 1966-037A |
| SATCAT no. | 02163 |
| Mission duration | 8 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Zenit-2 |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4730 kg[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 6 May 1966, 11:02:00 GMT[2] |
| Rocket | Vostok-2 s/n N15001-01 |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 31/6 |
| Contractor | OKB-1 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Recovered |
| Landing date | 14 May 1966, 08:24 GMT[3] |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric[2] |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 205 km |
| Apogee altitude | 298 km |
| Inclination | 65.0° |
| Period | 89.5 minutes |
| Epoch | 6 May 1966 |
Kosmos 117 (Russian: Космос 117 meaning Cosmos 117) or Zenit-2 No.39 was a Soviet optical film-return reconnaissance satellite launched in 1966. A Zenit-2 spacecraft, Kosmos 117 was the thirty-eighth of eighty-one such satellites to be launched[4][5] and had a mass of 4,730 kilograms (10,430 lb).
Kosmos 117 was launched by a Vostok-2 rocket, serial number N15001-01,[6] flying from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch took place at 11:02 GMT on 6 May 1966, and following its successful arrival in orbit the spacecraft received its Kosmos designation; along with the International Designator 1966-037A and the Satellite Catalog Number 02163.[1]
Kosmos 117 was operated in a low Earth orbit, at an epoch of 6 May 1966, it had a perigee of 205 kilometres (127 mi), an apogee of 298 kilometres (185 mi), an inclination of 65.0°, and an orbital period of 89.5 minutes.[2] After eight days in orbit, Kosmos 117 was deorbited, with its return capsule descending under parachute and landing at 08:24 GMT on 14 May 1966 and recovered by Soviet force.[3]
- ^ a b "Cosmos 117: Display 1966-037A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c "Cosmos 117: Trajectory 1966-037A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ a b Christie, Robert. "Zenit Satellites - Zenit-2 variant". Zarya.info. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Zenit-2 (11F61)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Zenit-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Vostok 8A92". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
